FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. Darwin's first important publication, heavily foreshadowing his later evolutionary writings. This N.Y. edition was issued as Harper's "New Miscellany" titles, Volumes X-XI. Initially published in London in 1839, both as part of the official report of the Beagle expedition and as a separate title. Thee advertisement to this edition says "In this work he [Darwin] has given, besides a narrative of the voyage, a sketch of his observations in natural history and geology, presented in such a manner as to possess most interest and value for the general reader, referring those who look for scientific details to the larger publications." Freeman 16; Darwin's Century 81 ("the rare first American edition"); Sabin 18647; Henze II, p.18-19.